Support the economic independence of women from Burkina Faso for the management of a natural corridor, crucial for elephants.

The elephant populations of the Nazinga Ranch are some of the rarest in Africa and their number has stayed largely constant throughout the last ten years. The corridor in question allows the elephants to leave the Ranch and go to the Kaboré Tambi National Park where important open spaces still remain. There is a lot of pressure being put on the local habitat, in particular, due to the development of cotton farming.

Economic opportunities exist due to the fact that there are many forest resources that can be exploited, one of which being shea butter.

The aim is, therefore, to support and mobilise women’s groups in the promotion of these resources and reinforce their decision-making abilities when faced with volatile markets. This will then allow the conservation of the natural habitats of elephants and other species to be justified in both ecological and economic grounds.

Olivier Behra went to Burkina Faso for the first time in 2012 when the Man & Nature Association decided to launch a support program to help the local communities living around the Arly Park. Some extraordinary work was undertaken, led by Alexis Kabore, the current director of the NatuDev association.

At present, the program has delegated the management of 5791 hectares of the natural zones surrounding the park to women’s groups. These groups have developed the local production of oils and soaps using the natural resources available to them as well as honey.

All of these activities have generated more than 50 million francs CFA in three years. This is an excellent example of how preserving and managing the environment well can raise funds for the local population… even if usually an investment is necessary in order to save nature.

It was only later in 2015 when travelling between Nazinga and the inhabited zone that separates it from the National Park that Olivier Behra decided that they wanted to make a commitment to these women who live in close proximity to the elephants. It is an incredible site to see these elephants evolving in their natural environment, but it is equally fascinating to see the resourcefulness of these groups of women. They have a desire to work, and they have the necessary natural resources that need only to be developed. Helping them do this is certainly the best way in which to preserve the elephants in the long term.

Net Positive Impact also created the social business Connected Beauties and sell the Elephas soap, handmade by these women with shea butter from the corridor shea trees, capital for elephants.

We need to do something in order to give the women living around this elephant corridor the means to improve themselves. They need to be able to commercialise their shea butter as soon as possible as well as other forest resources other than wood so that they stay committed to preserving the forests.